SDS Disability Inclusion Training Workshop

On Saturday, 12 coaches and volunteers completed a Disability Inclusion Training workshop delivered by Scottish Disability Sport (SDS), with participants travelling from across Scotland including Aberdeen, Dundee, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Lanarkshire and Fife.  We were fortunate in being able to host the workshop at University of St Andrew’s Sports Centre. Stretching over 40 acres, the site has fine views across the Tay estuary over to the Sidlaw Hills, gifted to the University in 1904 by notable industrialist and benefactor Andrew Carnegie.

The course was tutored by the team of Anna and Anne-Marie  who have a wealth of knowledge and experience of disability sport and inclusion for coming from coaching, teaching education backgrounds.

The format of the workshop involved initially a 1 hour theory session.  This provided participants with an introduction to disability and inclusion around topics including types of disabilities, effective communication, Activity Inclusion & STEPS models, potential adaptations, key challenges and finding solutions to inclusion.   Participants were also given the opportunity to take part in a variety of group tasks and discuss disability & inclusion in relation to specifically archery. 

From here, the group took part in a 2 hour practical session allowing to put what was learned in the classroom into practice.  The tasks were a fun and an engaging way to get coaches and volunteers to reflect on considerations when connecting and communicating with people who have a disability taking part in sport.

Mathilda Gatsby, St Andrew's University Archery Club's Disability and Publicity Officer stated:

''The SDS Inclusion Training course was a wonderful experience for us all.  I think that the coaches delivered it with confidence and professionality, adapting it perfectly for archery and allowing the group to contribute and share ideas. I am positive that we can use this training to implement inclusive practices within the St Andrews Archery Club for many years to come. As a disabled archer, personally I am grateful that these courses are becoming more accessible and popular.''

Euan Murray, Scottish Archery’s Club and Coaching Development Officer stated when reflecting on the day: ‘‘It was good to see coaches and volunteers coming together to share ideas, good practice and learning from one another.  Everyone was engaged in the workshop and we hope the participants enjoyed the session.  Inclusion and Diversity is one of our core values and it is pleasing to see the commitment and passion of those involved in our sport towards making archery as inclusive as possible.  Also, we had representation from a wide range of clubs from across the North, East & West regions including both Aberdeen University A.C and hosts St Andrew’s Archery Club which was great.’’

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended and to Anna and Anne-Marie from SDS for delivering the course.  Further this we would like to thank Mathilda Gatsby, who is the University of St Andrew’s Archery Club, Disability & Publicity Officer for arranging the venue classroom and sports hall spaces to deliver the workshop.

The workshop was supported by funding received from The Fletcher’s Trust (trust arm of The Worshipful Company of Archers) which allowed the cost of the course the remain low which was supported through ArcheryGB.  This support was greatly appreciated and valued.  You can find out more about the trust by clicking here

If you are interested in attending any future Disability Inclusion training please just get in touch.